Investigating the Role of Medical Informatics in Enhancing Healthcare Accessibility and Clinical Decision-Making

Medical informatics plays a crucial role in transforming healthcare accessibility by integrating advanced technologies to improve patient care, streamline medical processes, and enhance decision-making. Medical informatics uses telemedicine and electronic health records (EHRs) to connect patients and healthcare professionals in response to the increasing need for effective healthcare services. The aim of this research is to investigate the role of medical informatics in enhancing healthcare accessibility and clinical decision-making through the use of digitized medical records. A total of 347 consultations were observed, with data collected using a work sampling technique during follow-up outpatient sessions at various hospitals. The data was analyzed using statistical methods, which include descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test and regression analysis. Findings reveal that the paper records revealed considerable disparities in consultation times across hospitals and specializations. Digital records showed notable disparities only between specializations. Consultation times were not significantly different between paper and digital records (p≥0.278), while time spent seeking computer records increased in several specialties. Digitized data, including remote access, quicker inpatient handovers, and improved record timelines, all contribute to better decision-making. This research highlights the digitized medical records, as a component of medical informatics, contribute to improved healthcare accessibility and clinical decision-making when combined with standardized operational procedures.